Townhall.com, Where Your Opinion Counts
Talk Radio:   Bill Bennett   Mike Gallagher   Dennis Prager   Michael Medved   Hugh Hewitt   
BREAKING NEWS  LeftArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican   RightArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican  
Columns, funnies & more in your inbox!
Login | What's Hot
  • Check the boxes and send us your email address to receveive your free newsletter
  • Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
  • Townhall.com’s weekly inside scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes in the world of politics. When news breaks, we report.
  • Signup to receive the latest daily Townhall cartoons
Friday, September 01, 2006
Rich Galen :: Townhall.com Columnist
National Security and Politics
by Rich Galen
Forward Print Share Single Page
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
[+] Text [-]
 
 
Poll
Was the Copenhagen Global Warming Summit Walk-Out a Win for the U.S.?


  • Last night, on Paula Zahn's CNN program (which was hosted by John Roberts), I debated the nature of the push by President Bush to remind the country why Iraq is important.

  • My opponent was Paul Glastris, the editor-in-chief of the Washington Monthly, a liberal magazine. He was making the point that the Democrats have only to say to the voters, in effect, "We Ain't Them" and Nancy Pelosi can begin measuring for drapes in the Speaker's office.

  • I like Paul. We've debated before and he's very smart. But, I reminded him of what happened in 1998 when I was running GOPAC.

  • At exactly this point in the cycle - coming off the August recess we were rubbing our hands together in glee. The Democrats had been home for a month listening to their constituents about what was wrong with Bill Clinton and they were getting pretty squirrelly about hanging with him.

  • Given the six-year curse - the party of the President almost always loses seats - we had the champagne on ice.

  • I said there is a reason that we say that Labor Day marks the beginning of the campaign season: That's when the majority of Americans who intend to vote (which, in a mid-term election will be well less than half of all registered voters) begin to pay attention.

  • In 1998 we overplayed the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal. We gave the voters nothing else. They rewarded us by giving the Democrats an additional five seats when we had been planning on Republican gains in the 10-12 seat range.

  • In 2006 the Democrats will, I promise you, overplay the public's unhappiness with Iraq. They have nothing else.

  • The Ned Lamont win in Connecticut may well be added to the dictionary definition of the phrase "Pyrrhic Victory." It is important to remember that the Lamont/Lieberman race was solely a Democratic Party activity. Independents and Republicans were not invited to participate.

  • Starting next week the Democrats will have to begin wrestling with the "We Ain't Them" strategy on national security and foreign affairs. It is the issue of the confirmation of John Bolton to be the US Representative to the United Nations.

  • To review the bidding, Senate Dems would not allow Bolton's nomination to come to the floor for a vote, so the President made what is called a "recess appointment."

  • Without getting too deeply into the weeds, Bolton's recess appointment runs out when the Senate adjourns in November or December. To keep his job, he has to be confirmed by the Senate before then.

    Continued...

    		•
    1 2
    		| Full Article & Comments | Next >
    Share:
    Forward Print Single Page
    Vote on It:
    Average Vote:
     
    About The Author

    Rich Galen has been a press secretary to Dan Quayle and Newt Gingrich. Rich Galen currently works as a journalist and writes at Mullings.com

    Be the first to read Rich Galen's column. Sign up today and receive Townhall.com delivered each morning to your inbox.

    Join The Debate!

    Post Your Comment
    (0 comments so Far)
    View in ascending order     View in descending order
    Sign Up to Post Your CommentsSign Up to Post Your Comments
    If you are already registered, click here to login. Otherwise, please take a few seconds to register with Townhall.com. Once you sign up, you’ll be able to post your comments immediately, use the action center, get podcasts, and more!
    Note: Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.
    Salutation:
    First Name:
    		*
    Last Name:
    		*
    Email:
    		*
    Nickname:
    		*
    Note: Nick name will be shown when you post comments.
    Address 1:
    		*
    Address 2:
    City:
    		 *
    State:
    		 *
    Zip:
    		 *
    Phone:
    		       
    Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
    (Bi-Weekly) We highlight the best opportunities from our partners for surveys, action items and more.